About a few weeks later…It had been weeks since I last faced her, but the thought of her icy glare still sent chills down my spine. Today was no different. When she entered the courtroom, dressed sharply in a tailored black suit, her eyes locked onto mine like a predator sizing up its prey.The courthouse had a way of feeling colder than it should, even on a warm day. The air conditioning hummed softly, the scent of polished wood and faintly lingering coffee hanging in the air. I sat at the plaintiff's table, trying to focus on my breathing while the memories of past encounters with Wilma gnawed at the edges of my confidence.I swallowed hard and glanced at William, sitting beside me. He must have sensed my unease because he reached over and gave my hand a warm squeeze. His touch was steadying, like an anchor pulling me back from the storm raging in my mind.“You’ve got this,” William murmured, his voice low and soothing. “She’s all smoke and mirrors. The truth is on your side.”I n
The morning light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the kitchen as I sat at the table, staring at my phone. My thumb hovered over Lucas’s name in my contact list. It had been a few weeks since we’d spoken, and while he was safe and sound in Vancouver with his father, my chest tightened with longing.With a deep breath, I pressed the call button and held the phone to my ear.“Mommy!” Lucas’s voice chirped on the other end, bright and full of life.“Hi, sweetheart!” My heart swelled at the sound of his voice. “How’s my favorite boy doing?”“I’m good. Aunt Lety and I went to the science museum yesterday, and we saw a giant T-Rex skeleton! It was so cool!”“That sounds amazing! Did you take pictures?”“Yeah, but Aunt Lety wouldn’t let me climb on it.” He giggled, and I couldn’t help but laugh along.“Well, that’s probably for the best. We wouldn’t want to upset the museum staff, now would we?”“I guess not. When are you coming home, Mommy? I miss you.”The lump in my th
A soft drizzle tapped against the windows as I sat at my desk, reviewing the stack of documents Jack had sent over. Each page detailed Wilma’s transgressions: forged signatures, shady transactions, and records of her exploiting even Grandma’s properties. Seeing her betrayal in black and white only stoked the fire within me. This wasn’t just about getting back what was rightfully mine—it was about justice for my family.Still, the weight of it all felt immense. My chest tightened as I thought about the upcoming hearing. Would Wilma slither her way out of this, as she had so many times before? I shook my head, pushing the thought away. I needed to focus on what I could control.The ringing of my phone broke my concentration. Picking it up, I saw it was William.“Hey,” I answered, my voice soft.“Just checking in,” he said, his tone warm and steady. “How’s the prep going?”“As well as it can,” I admitted. “I’m combing through everything Jack sent over. Honestly, it’s hard not to get ang
After several weeks later…This was it—the final hearing. Either justice would prevail, or Wilma would continue to walk away unscathed, leaving behind the wreckage she’d caused.The courtroom buzzed with a tense energy that mirrored the storm brewing in my chest. As I walked in with Jack, my lawyer and steadfast ally through this ordeal, the gravity of the day settled over me like a heavy cloak. The oak-paneled walls of the courtroom felt imposing, the weight of history and judgment imbued in their very grain. I could see Wilma sitting across the room, her expression icy and unreadable. But beneath her composed facade, I could sense the cracks—a subtle shift in her demeanor, the tiniest flicker of fear.“Stay calm,” Jack whispered as we took our seats. “I have a strong gut this case is on our side.”I nodded, gripping the edge of the table. My palms were damp, but I took a deep breath to steady myself.The court official, a middle-aged man with a measured tone, began to read through
The air in my home felt different that evening—lighter, warmer, alive with the sound of laughter and conversation. It was a small celebration, nothing grand or extravagant, just those closest to me, the people who had been my steadfast pillars throughout the grueling journey to reclaim what was rightfully mine.The dining table was set with simple yet delicious dishes: roasted chicken seasoned with rosemary and garlic, creamy mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables, and a rich chocolate cake for dessert. It wasn’t about the food but the company and the significance of the moment."To justice finally being served," William said, raising his glass of sparkling cider. His smile was genuine and proud, a rare sight that made my heart swell with gratitude.“To Margarette,” Jack echoed, raising his glass with a soft smile.I raised mine too, the warmth of their words filling my chest. “To all of us. I wouldn’t have made it here without each of you.”The sound of glasses clinking filled the room,
For so long, I had fought to reclaim what rightfully belonged to my family. Now that it was mine, the victory was bittersweet.The sun was just beginning to rise as I stood on the balcony of my new office, overlooking the sprawling grounds of the Montefalco Casino Resort. The sight was breathtaking: the sun’s golden rays reflecting off the towering glass façade of the hotel, the carefully manicured gardens below, and the serene blue of the infinity pool that seemed to merge with the horizon. This was my empire now—a reality that still felt surreal.The resort represented both a legacy and a monumental challenge. Wilma’s influence still lingered in the shadows, particularly among the board of trustees, most of whom had been loyal to her. Winning them over—or at least earning their begrudging respect—would not be easy.“Quite the view, isn’t it?”I turned to see William stepping into the office, carrying two cups of coffee. He handed one to me with a smile.“It is,” I said, taking a si
Work had become an intricate dance, a delicate balance between asserting my authority and navigating the complex personalities that surrounded me. Every day brought new challenges, and every day I reminded myself why I fought so hard for this. This wasn’t just a job; it was my legacy, my family’s name.It was mid-morning, and the sound of my heels clicking against the marble floor echoed through the quiet halls of the resort’s executive wing. I had a meeting with the marketing team to finalize plans for an upcoming VIP gala. As I turned a corner, William emerged from his office, falling into step beside me with his usual easy confidence.“Ready for the meeting?” he asked, glancing at the tablet in his hand.“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied. “How’s the pitch looking?”“Solid,” he said with a small smile. “Though I’m sure you’ll find something to tweak.”I chuckled softly. “You know me too well.”The meeting was productive, though not without its share of heated debates. By the tim
The days following my encounter with Ms. Reyes were a whirlwind. I threw myself into work, determined to prove my worth to the board of trustees and solidify my place as the new CEO of the Montefalco Casino Resort. Yet, no matter how much progress I made, I couldn’t ignore the lingering tension in the air or the feeling that I was constantly being scrutinized.One particular morning, the air in my office felt heavier than usual. I sat at my desk, reviewing reports, while the distant hum of the resort’s activities filtered through the walls. The gala was only two weeks away, and the pressure to deliver was palpable.As if sensing my stress, William knocked on my door and entered with his usual air of confidence. He carried two cups of coffee and handed one to me with a small smile.“Thought you could use this,” he said, settling into the chair across from my desk.“Thanks,” I said, taking a sip. “You’re a lifesaver.”He leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. “How are you hold
The rain was falling again.It always did on days like this—days that felt like endings.I stood on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the stormy waters of Anacortes, my coat pulled tightly around me, the hood shielding my face from the wind that carried the scent of salt and something older—something like goodbye.Leon stood behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to feel him there. His presence was familiar now, carved into my skin like muscle memory. He’d been my gravity, my storm, my salvation, and my ruin—sometimes all at once.“It’s really over, isn’t it?” I whispered, more to the wind than to him.He didn’t answer right away. His silence was as heavy as the stormclouds above us.“I wanted to fix everything for you,” he said finally, his voice hoarse, like it had been dragged across a battlefield. “I wanted to give you a life that didn’t hurt.”I closed my eyes. The ache in my chest pulsed with every beat of my heart. “You did,” I said. “For a while, you did.”I heard the crunch
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I’m not the same person I was before,” I said, my voice firm, unwavering. “And I’m not walking away this time.”The man’s eyes flickered with a moment of doubt, just enough for me to catch. And then, before I could even register what had happened, Leon moved.Faster than I could blink, Leon was in front of me, his hand grabbing the gun and twisting it out of the man’s grasp. The force of it sent the man stumbling back, but he didn’t go down easily. His bodyguards rushed in, but Leon was already a step ahead, disarming one of them with a swift, calculated move.I stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what I was witnessing. Leon—always so calm, always so careful—was ruthless. He was like a force of nature, determined to protect me at all costs.But the fight wasn’t over yet. The man recovered, his eyes burning with rage. “You really think you’ve won?” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “You’re nothing but a pawn in a game you can’t ev
The sound of boots drew closer, pounding the floor with an urgency that echoed through the cavernous halls of the estate. My heart raced as the reality of what I had just heard crashed into me like a tidal wave. The man who had once been a part of my life—my family’s betrayer, the one who had orchestrated their deaths—stood there, calmly, as if this was just another night for him.Leon’s grip on my hand tightened, but I didn’t let him pull me away. I could feel the air thickening with tension, the walls pressing in as everything I thought I knew began to crumble.The intruders were only moments away.The man—he—smirked, watching us. “You think this will end well? You’ve no idea what you’re up against. My people are everywhere.”I took a step forward, ignoring Leon’s silent plea to retreat. “You killed them. And you thought I would be the next one to fall in line?” My voice was a whisper, but it held a power I hadn’t realized I had. “You were wrong.”The man’s face faltered, just for a
Next Morning at the Estate Archives. The basement was cold and damp, and the air smelled of mildew and secrets. Old boxes lined the walls, labeled in my father’s tidy script. Financial records. Land deeds. Correspondence.Leon sifted through a crate of documents while I dug through another.Then something caught my eye.A faded folder labeled: Project Thornfield.I opened it slowly.Inside were blueprints—plans for development across coastal land that was supposed to be protected forest. There were signatures from multiple board members, including names I recognized.And then, one I didn’t.N. Vallis.Leon leaned over. “You know that name?”I shook my head. “No. But look here—he signed off on the project two weeks before my parents died.”Leon pulled out his phone. “I’ll run a background check.”I kept flipping through the documents—and found something that made my blood run cold.An aerial photo.Of the cliffside. Our property.With a giant red X drawn over the coordinates where my p
THREE WEEKS LATER...The investigation moved faster than I’d expected. With the board fully on our side now, the paper trail unraveled like a thread pulled from an old sweater—each piece of evidence exposing the next. Shell companies. Forged contracts. Witnesses who had remained silent out of fear but were finally coming forward.Still, no one had seen him since the day of the summit. He had vanished without a trace. No flights. No offshore activity. No messages. It was like he’d disappeared into smoke.But Dorian didn’t believe in ghosts. “He’s hiding,” he said as he handed me a thick folder. “And this—this will force him out.”I flipped through the documents. Bank records. A property registered under an alias. Hidden deep in the woods outside of Anacortes. I felt my stomach twist.Leon stepped up behind me, his hand grazing my shoulder. “Let’s pay him a visit.”The cabin was barely more than a shadow tucked between trees. No lights. No car. Just silence and the thrum of insects in t
Sunlight crept cautiously through the cracks in the blinds, casting golden slivers across the hardwood floor of the safe house bedroom. I sat curled up on the edge of the bed, a blanket draped around my shoulders and the journal heavy in my lap. The cover was cracked, worn with age and secrets. My fingers hovered over the first page for what felt like an eternity.Leon was nearby—he hadn’t slept much, either. He stood at the window with a mug of black coffee, watching the world outside with quiet alertness. When I finally opened the journal, he turned slightly but didn’t speak. He knew I needed silence for this.The first entry was dated nearly two decades ago.July 14th. We signed the contract today. Two families, one future. The woman from Delmar Holdings is more cunning than I expected. She knows we’re desperate—and she used it. I told Mariana to trust me. That this was the only way. God help me, I hope I’m right.My breath hitched. Mariana—that was my mother’s name.I flipped thro
MARGARETTE'S POVBefore we could react, the door behind us burst open.Three armed men rushed in, dressed in black, their movements precise and rehearsed. Leon shoved me behind him, drawing his gun up in an instant. Dorian, who had been lingering near the entrance, took cover behind a cabinet, gun already out.“Elise’s father wasn’t bluffing,” I breathed, my heart hammering. “He had backup ready.”Leon fired the first shot, catching one of the intruders in the shoulder and sending him crashing to the floor. Chaos erupted. Dorian ducked low and returned fire, narrowly missing another attacker who retaliated with a spray of bullets that shattered the windows.I crouched behind an overturned table, the sound of gunfire drowning out my thoughts. The locket in my palm dug into my skin, its edges sharp—a painful reminder that I couldn’t afford to lose control now.“Elise’s father!” I shouted to Leon. “He’s escaping!”Through the haze of smoke and broken glass, I saw the man slinking toward
The sound of footsteps pounding in the hallway was the last thing I heard before the door slammed open.I barely had time to react before a rush of armed men poured into the room, their eyes scanning every corner, landing finally on me. There was no mistaking the intent behind their cold stares.“Get down!” Leon’s voice crackled through the earpiece again, but there was no time to obey. I couldn’t allow myself to hesitate—not now, not when the truth was within reach.I raised my gun, my hands steady despite the chaos unfolding around me. I wasn’t going down without a fight, not after everything I had lost. Not after everything Elise’s father had taken from me.Before the first man could react, I fired. The sound of the shot echoed in the confined space, the bullet finding its mark in the man’s chest. His body crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud, but the others didn’t hesitate. They moved in faster, their guns drawn, but I was ready.I ducked behind the desk, using it as cover
Dawn came in silver slivers through the cracks in the window. I hadn’t slept—not really. My mind was too loud, looping the footage over and over like a broken reel.Leon sat across from me at the table, sipping his coffee like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Neither of us had said much since the footage. We didn’t need to. The truth had cut so deep, it didn’t leave room for small talk.But I had questions.And I needed answers.“How long do you think he’s known I survived?” I finally asked, voice hoarse.Leon didn’t look away from his mug. “Long enough to start covering his tracks. But he didn’t expect the locket to resurface.”My hand instinctively reached for it. The locket was warm now, like it had absorbed my grief and fury. Inside was a picture of my mother and me—her arm around my tiny shoulders, her smile soft but tired. A photo I hadn’t even remembered until last night.“He killed her,” I whispered. “He killed my father. For what? A project?”“Not just a project,”